Comments

David de Groot said: They're pretty fascinating up close. Yeah they are a bit ;-)

accesser said:
Nice macro, Our chickens would like a bit of that

David de Groot said: hehehe I dare say so. Although mine tend to be more into fruit than dragonflies.

accesser said:
Is macro any different of a full frame all I know is you cant use the APS-C macro lens of full frame not aware of any advantages or disadvantages with the full frame sensor for that style of photography

looby88 said:
sleepy first thing, till the sun warms them up, but always ugly ! I always like to see them though, except when they catch butterflies !

David de Groot said: You get a wider field of view at the same focal length. This can be good, or bad, depending on what you're shooting. I cropped off the right hand side in this one as it wasn't useful.

David de Groot said: You know, I've never seen them catch butterflies, but then I don't spend a huge amount of time watching them either. This one had a very boring browny coloured tail, unlike the more interesting blue, red and green ones I usually see, still can't complain as this is the closest I've been to one with a camera (they usually fly off). As it was I had to stand on a ladder to take it.

Out_and_About said: I've got visions of you now, on a ladder, being ever so careful not to fall but to get close to get this shot.
Nice photo - I like dragonflies - and damselflies for that matter - interesting eyes and wings.

Margot- said:
Nice macro! I didn't know that about dragon fly -- being sleepy in the morning. What do you mean they catch butterflies? They eat butterflies?!

Debbie from Brisbane said:
That's an amazing Macro Dave. Nicely done!

looby88 said:
I too have a view of Dave wobbling up a ladder, this dragonfly obviously doesnt have a sense of humour- or it would have flown away at the opportune moment, sniggering to itself...
Margot, they are beasties, they have voracious appetites under the water.. and once airborne. yes they do eat butterflies- but not the wings, they obviously get stuck in their throats ! Not nice

Cobra_11 said:
Great shot! Its eyes are like from a Disney cartoon :-) Perfect work!

David de Groot said: Yeah pretty much, and being early in the morning, I too was sleepy ;-)
I teetered on the ladder for a while trying to get a head-on shot, but it wasn't working so well. Well I presume that's why this one let me get that close and not fly off... Thanks Debbie :) Oh but they don't eat only butterflies. I think their appetite extends to pretty much any insect and arachnid that's smaller than it. Thanks :)

Richard.Fisher said:
Wow, this is great David.

looby88 said:
....... they eat spiders ! I like them a whole lot more !!!!

David de Groot said: Thanks Richard :) Yep, they do indeed!

s.westhead (Simon) said:
Wow David what are you feeding those things out there. That thing looks massive.

David de Groot said: Oh you know, the usual, moths, wasps, spiders, small children... ;-)

doberwoman said:
magnifique !!!

s.westhead (Simon) said:
Can i send a few of mine over (kids i mean)

David de Groot said: Thanks :) Yours might be too large for dragonflies now... mine are, that's for sure. ;-)

Jack High said:
Now that is really close up. The detail is great and I like being able to see where the wings join the body. I think the mesh background gives an interesting contrast.

David de Groot said: Thanks Jack. I think I personally would have preferred a more natural setting, but can't have everything.

Mitch Lahey said:
One word; Wow!
The DOF is amazing, the detail is amazing, just the whole capture amazes me and how you got so close to it. Great work Dave

David de Groot said: I was impressed he didn't fly away too. Must have been pretty zonked out from a hard night's hunting...

Andrew Hing said:
That is a very cool shot David

Mitch Lahey said: Most likely had a hangover from a night out hunting with the boys